The Best Audition Songs for Chaplin – by Vocal Type
Do you have an upcoming audition for Chaplin? Well unless you have specifically been asked to sing a song from the show that you’re auditioning for, it’s generally best not to. That said, you should still show off similar vocals and personality. So here’s our list of audition songs for Chaplin, broken down by character.
Since Chaplin is an early contemporary musical, the following songs are from contemporary/pre-contemporary shows as well. In addition many of the songs below are from musicals set between the 1900s – 1960s in order to match the style of the show.
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Step 1: Read your audition details
Please read your audition details carefully, as they sometimes specify the type of song they’d like to hear (a ballad, something uptempo, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific casting call.
Step 2: Get to know the show
In casting calls, they often ask for you to be “familiar with the show”. And even if it’s not requested, it’s generally assumed. One way to do this is to read through the synopsis while listening to the Chaplin cast album➝.
Step 3: Pick an audition song
Next, based on your personality and vocal type, decide whether you’d like to audition for the ensemble or a specific character. Just keep in mind that if you audition for a specific character, you still might not be chosen for that particular role.
There’s usually a spot on the audition form asking if you are open to being in the ensemble or accepting a different role. I would suggest ticking that box and taking whatever you are offered. Every role is important, and you will earn valuable experience in a show.
And on that same note, even if you audition for the ensemble (rather than a specific character), there’s always a chance of being cast in a leading or supporting role!
To summarize, keep an open mind and try not to take the process too seriously. And when you’re ready, choose the song that you feel most comfortable with from the list below.
Charlie Chaplin
“A Place to Come Back to” – The Wind in the Willows
“Foolish to Think” – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
“How I Am” – Little Women
“Never the Luck” – The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Hannah Chaplin
“Another Winter in a Summer Town” – Grey Gardens
“Anytime I Am There” – Elegies: A Song Cycle
“Being Mrs. Banks” – Mary Poppins
“Sylvia’s Lullaby” – Finding Neverland
Hedda Hopper
“An Old-Fashioned Love Story” – The Wild Party
“Jazz Time” – Marguerite
“Only in New York” – Thoroughly Modern Millie
“The Life of the Party” – The Wild Party
Mack Sennett
“Buddy’s Blues” – Follies
“Museum Song” – Barnum
“There Is a Sucker Born Ev’ry Minute” – Barnum
“Together Again” – Young Frankenstein
Oona O’Neill
“Already Home” – The Wizard of Oz
“I Still Believe” – Amazing Grace
“Love Never Dies” – Love Never Dies
“No One Cared Like You” – Nunsense II
Young Charlie
“Almost Nearly Perfect” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
“Expressing Yourself” – Billy Elliot
“Picture Show” – Bonnie & Clyde [Young Clyde’s part]
“When I Get My Name in Lights” – The Boy From Oz
Ensemble (Altos)
“I Don’t Need a Roof” – Big Fish
“Just Beyond the Stars” – Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure
“My House” – Matilda
Ensemble (Baritones)
“I Am My Own Invention” – Wonderland
“I Cannot Hear the City” – Sweet Smell of Success
“Trip a Little Light Fantastic” – Mary Poppins Returns [2010s film]
Ensemble (Basses)
“Coffee Shop Nights” – Curtains
“Everybody Loves the Windmill” – Mrs Henderson Presents
“Welcome to the World” – A Man of No Importance
Ensemble (Contras)
“Every Tear a Mother Cries” – Honk!
“My Body Wasn’t Why” – The Glorious Ones
“The Place Where Lost Things Go” – Mary Poppins Returns [film]
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos/Sopranos)
“Fabulous Places” – Doctor Dolittle
“Finding Wonderland” – Wonderland
“Look With Your Heart” – Love Never Dies
Ensemble (Tenors)
“A Bit of Earth” – The Secret Garden
“Drift Away” – Grey Gardens
“Larger Than Life” – My Favorite Year
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Chaplin:
• “Actor!” in Audition Monologues for Young Men➝
• “I Don’t Want to Be an Actress➝” from Snakebit (Jenifer)
• “Rooms” in Fantasy Monologues for Young Actors➝
• “Where Is He?➝” from The Father Clock➝ (Flub)
• “You’ve Got to Come Back a Star➝” from 42nd Street (Julian)
Final Step: Prepare for your audition
After collecting your materials and getting familiar with the show, it’s time to move forward with the actual preparation. If you’re in need of some guidance on this step, you can always go through this FREE audition prep checklist!
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Chaplin Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Chaplin, along with which characters sing in each of them. Unless you have been asked to, do not choose from the below songs for your audition! The following is more intended to be used for character research purposes.
* That said, if you’ve specifically been asked to sing a song from the show, you can find the sheet music for the best possible audition songs below.
Act 1:
“Look At All the People” – Hannah
“What’cha Gonna Do?” – Hannah, Young Charlie, Ensemble
“If I Left London” – Charlie
“Sennett Song” – Sennett
“Look At All the People (Reprise)” – Hannah, Charlie
“Tramp Shuffle – Part 1” – Sennett, Charlie, Usher
“Tramp Shuffle – Part 2” – Sennett, Charlie, Usher, Ensemble
“Life Can Be Like the Movies” – Charlie, Sydney, Mildred, Ensemble
“The Look-a-Like Contest” – Ensemble
Act 2:
“Just Another Day in Hollywood” – Charlie, Hedda, Ensemble
“The Life That You Wished For” – Charlie
“All Falls Down” – Hedda
“Man of All Countries” – Charlie, Hedda, McGranery
“What Only Love Can See” – Oona
“The Exile” – Hedda, Ensemble
“Where Are All the People?” – Charlie
“What Only Love Can See (Reprise)” – Charlie, Oona
“This Man” – Oona, Sydney, Hannah, Mildred, Alf, Ensemble
“Finale” / “Tramp Reprise” – Company
Which of these audition songs for Chaplin did you choose?
And what role are you auditioning for? We would love to hear all about it in the comments! And in the meantime, you can check out our database of best audition songs for other musicals.
Need extra help? Just go through this free audition prep checklist!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.